Air pillow with four adjustable air pressure chambers

ABSTRACT

An inflation pillow is designed to comfortably cradle the head and neck of a user whether the user is lying on their back or on their side. The inflation pillow has separate air pressure adjustable compartments. Two of the compartments are specifically configured to support the neck and head of a user when lying on their back. The remaining two compartments are specifically configured to support the head and neck of a user when lying on either side.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an air inflatable pillow that isdesigned to comfortably cradle the head and neck of a user whether theuser is lying on their back or on their side. More specifically, thepresent invention pertains to an inflatable pillow having four separateair pressure adjustable compartments. Two of the compartments arespecifically configured to support the head and neck (cervical spine) ofa user when lying on their back. The remaining two compartments arespecifically configured to support the head and neck of a user whenlying on either side.

(2) Description of the Related Art

There exists in the prior art many different examples of pillows thathave been specifically designed to provide comfort and therapeutic carefor users of the pillows. Many different types of pillows have beendesigned aiming to reduce or correct neck and upper back discomfort ofusers while they sleep. These pillows are constructed in a variety ofshapes and contours and from a variety of different materials.

More recently, therapeutic pillows have been designed with contours anddimensions that are specifically matched to an individual. Theindividual's head and neck dimensions are employed in designing thesupporting surface of the pillow. These types of pillows are constructedof a foam or similar material that has a top surface contour thatcradles the back of the head of the individual as well as the back ofthe neck of the individual. The resilient foam or other similar materialof the pillow and the configuration of the pillow top surface areintended to provide comfort and therapeutic care to the individual user.

However, the individualized pillow constructions of the prior artdescribed above are disadvantaged in that the resilience or firmness ofthe pillow is set when the pillow is initially designed for theindividual user. Should the individual user's preference for a firmpillow or a soft pillow change, it is necessary to construct a newpillow to suit the individual's preference for the firmer or softerpillow. In addition, these prior art pillows are designed for anindividual that predominantly sleeps on their back. However, manyindividuals change their sleeping positions several times during a fullnight's sleep. Prior art pillows that are specifically designed tocradle the back of the user's head and neck are not as comfortable, andcan often be very uncomfortable when the pillow is used to support theside of the individual's head when the individual rolls over to sleep ontheir side.

What is needed to overcome these disadvantages of prior art therapeuticpillows is a pillow that can adjust to anatomical needs having afirmness or softness that can be changed as the individual user'spreference for a firm pillow or soft pillow changes. In addition, thepillow would provide therapeutic support to the user's head and neckwhether the user is sleeping on their back or on their side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pillow of the present invention overcomes the disadvantagesassociated with prior art therapeutic pillows. The pillow of theinvention is designed as an inflatable pillow with four separatecompartments enclosing interior volume sections. The separatecompartments are designed to support and cradle the back of the user'shead and the back of the user's neck when the user is sleeping on theirback, and to support the side of the user's head when the user issleeping on their left side or right side. Individually sealed forwardand rearward inflatable pillow compartments support the respective neckand head of the user when the user is sleeping on their back.Individually sealed left side and right side inflatable pillowcompartments support the respective left side of the individual's headand neck and the right side of the individuals' head and neck when theindividual is sleeping on either side.

The forward pillow compartment contains a forward section of the pillowinterior volume that is sealed from the remainder of the pillow interiorvolume. This enables the forward section of the pillow interior volumeto be adjustably inflated to a desired air pressure that provides thefirmness or softness of the pillow preferred by the individual. Inaddition, the forward compartment of the pillow is constructed with aheight dimension that positions a top surface of the forward compartmentbeneath the individual's neck, providing support for the neck when theindividual is sleeping on their back.

The rearward pillow compartment contains a rearward section of thepillow interior volume that is sealed from the remainder of the pillowinterior volume. This enables the rearward pillow compartment to beadjustably inflated to provide the level of firmness or softnesspreferred by the pillow user. In addition, the rearward pillowcompartment is constructed with a height dimension that positions a topsurface of the rearward pillow compartment at a lesser elevation thanthe top surface of the forward pillow compartment. This enables the topsurface of the rearward pillow compartment to support the user's head ata slightly lesser elevation than the top surface of the forward pillowcompartment supporting the user's neck when the user is lying on theirback.

The left side and right side compartments of the inflatable pillowcontain respective left side and right side sections of the pillowinterior volume. The left and right side sections of the pillow interiorvolume are sealed from the forward and rearward sections of the interiorvolume, but communicate with each other. This enables the air pressurein the left side and right side sections of the pillow interior volumeto be adjusted to provide the respective left and right compartments ofthe pillow with the firmness or softness desired by the individual user.In addition, the left and right side compartments of the pillow areconstructed with their top surfaces elevated slightly above the topsurface of the rearward pillow compartment. This dimensioning of theleft and right side compartments of the pillow enables the compartmentsto comfortably support the respective left and right sides of the user'shead and neck when the user is sleeping on either their left or rightside.

Thus, the pillow of the present invention provides separate airadjustable compartments that can provide the desired firmness orsoftness of the individual user. In addition, the dimensioning of thepillow's separate compartments enable it to comfortably support the headand neck of the user when the user is sleeping on their back, andsupport the opposite left side and right side of the user's head whenthe user is sleeping on their respective left side or right side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the present invention are set forth in the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and inthe drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the air inflatable pillow of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a front, elevation view of thepillow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a rear, elevation view of thepillow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a front, perspective view of thepillow of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a rear, perspective view of thepillow of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A plan view of the air inflatable pillow 12 of the invention is shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the top of the air inflatable pillow 12.Preferably, the air pillow 12 is constructed in a similar manner to thatof the air cell pillow of U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,168 B1, which issued onFeb. 20, 2001, and is incorporated herein by reference. The pillow 12 isbasically comprised of a bottom, base sheet 14 and a top sheet 16. Boththe base sheet 14 and top sheet 16 are constructed of a flexible airimpervious material, for example vinyl or plastic. The base sheet 14 andtop sheet 16 have coincident peripheral edges 18 that are securelysealed together by radio frequency (RF) welding or other equivalentmeans. This seals an interior volume 22 of the air pillow between thebase sheet 14 and top sheet 16.

The bottom, base sheet 14 is generally flat. However, as a variantembodiment of the air pillow, the base sheet 14 could be formed with aplurality of air cells in the same manner as the top sheet 16, which isdescribed below.

The top sheet 16 is formed with a plurality of air cells that projectupwardly from a plane of the top sheet defined by the top sheetperipheral edge 18. The air cells are formed by being molded into thetop sheet or by other equivalent methods. The air cells are arranged inthree groups. The air cells of each of the three groups have the samebasic construction, with only the dimensions of the air cells of thegroups being different.

The plurality of air cells includes a first forward group of air cells26 arranged in a line across the front of the pillow 12 at the middle ofthe pillow. In the illustrative embodiment, the first group of air cells26 includes three air cells. Each of the air cells 26 of the first grouphas a top wall surface 28 and four side wall surfaces 32 that give theair cell a cubic configuration when inflated. The top sheet 16 issecured to the bottom sheet 14 along the bottom edges of each of the aircell side walls 32 forming sealed seams along the bottom edges. Thesealed seams extend completely around each air cell 26 except for short,narrow portions 34 of the top sheet that are not sealed to the bottomsheet. These narrow portions 34 form conduits that intercommunicate theadjacent air cells 26 of the first group. Long, narrow portions of thetop sheet and bottom sheet are also left unsecured to each other,forming a first inflation conduit 36 that extends between the top sheet16 and bottom sheet 14 from the air cells 26 of the first group to theperipheral edges 18 of the sheets.

A first valve 38 is secured on the top sheet 16 at the peripheral edge18 and communicates with the first inflation conduit 36. The first valve38 can be any known type of valve that can be used to selectively supplyair pressure through the conduit 36 to the air cells 26 of the firstgroup to inflate the air cells, and can be selectively opened to deflatethe air cells.

The air cells 26 of the first, forward group of air cells togetherdefine a forward compartment of the air pillow. The forward compartmentencloses a forward section of the interior volume of the air pillow.This forward section of the pillow interior volume is isolated fromother sections of the pillow interior volume, as will be explained.

The top surface area of the air pillow is defined by the top wallsurfaces of all of the air cells. The top wall surfaces 28 of the aircells 26 of the first group together define a forward surface areaportion of the air pillow top surface. The side walls 32 of each of theair cells 26 of the first group have the same dimensions and positionthe top wall surfaces 28 of the air cells 26 at generally the samepositions elevated above the plane defined by the base sheet and topsheet peripheral edges 18. With the air cells of the first group 26fully inflated, the top wall surfaces 28 of the first group of air cells26 are positioned at generally a first elevation above the plane definedby the sheet peripheral edges 18. By adjusting the air pressure in thefirst group of air cells 26, the elevation of the air cell top wallsurfaces 28 above the plane defined by the base sheet and top sheetperipheral edges 18 can be adjusted. In addition, by adjusting the airpressure in the first group of air cells 26, the firmness or softness ofthe air cells can be adjusted.

The plurality of air cells includes a second group of air cells 46 thatis separate from the first group of air cells 26. The second group ofair cells 46 is arranged in two lines at the back of the pillow behindthe first group of air cells 26 and at the middle of the pillow. In theillustrative embodiment, the air cells of the second group 46 includesix separate air cells. Like the air cells of the first group, each ofthe air cells 46 of the second group has a top wall surface 48 and fourside wall surfaces 52 that give the air cells a cubic configuration wheninflated. Again, like the air cells of the first group 26, the top sheet16 is secured to the bottom sheet 14 along the bottom edges of each ofthe air cell side walls 52 forming sealed seams along the bottom edgesof the air cells 46. The sealed seams extend completely around each ofthe air cells 46 except for short, narrow portions 54 of the top sheetthat are not secured to the bottom sheet. These narrow portions 54 formconduits that interconnect the adjacent air cells 46 of the secondgroup. Long, narrow portions of the top sheet and bottom sheet are alsoleft unsecured to each other, forming a second inflation conduit 56 thatextends between the top sheet 16 and bottom sheet 14 from the air cells46 of the second group to the peripheral edges 18 of the sheets.

A second valve 58 is secured on the top sheet 16 at the peripheral edge18 and communicates with the second inflation conduit 56. The secondvalve 58 can be any known type of valve that can be used to selectivelysupply air pressure through the second inflation conduit 56 to the aircells 46 of the second group to inflate the air cells, and can beselectively opened to deflate the air cells.

The air cells 46 of the second, rearward group of air cells togetherdefine a rearward compartment of the air pillow. The rearwardcompartment encloses a rearward section of the interior volume of theair pillow. This rearward section of the air pillow interior volume isisolated from the other sections of the pillow interior volume.

The top wall surfaces 48 of the air cells 46 of the second grouptogether define a rearward surface area portion of the total top surfacearea of the air pillow. The side walls 52 of the second group of aircells 46 have the same dimensions and position the top wall surfaces 48of the second group of air cells 46 at generally the same elevationabove the plane defined by the sheet peripheral edges 18. With the aircells of the second group 46 fully inflated, the air cell top wallsurfaces 48 are positioned generally at a second elevation above theplane defined by the base sheet and top sheet peripheral edges 18. Thesecond elevation of the air cells of the second group 46 is less thanthe first elevation of the air cells of the first group 26, as can beseen in the schematic representations of the air cells shown in FIGS.2-5. By adjusting the air pressure in the air cells of the second group46, the second elevation of the top wall surfaces 48 of the second groupof air cells can be adjusted. In addition, by adjusting the air pressurein the air cells of the second group 46, the firmness or softness of theair cells can be adjusted.

The plurality of air cells include a third group of air cells 66 thatare positioned at the left side and right side of the pillow. Like theair cells of the first group 36 and second group 46, each of the aircells 66 of the third group has a top wall surface 68 and four side wallsurfaces 72 that give the air cell a cubic configuration when inflated.The top sheet 16 is secured to the bottom sheet 14 along the bottomedges of each of the air cell side walls 72 forming sealed seams alongthe bottom edges. The sealed seams extend completely around each aircell 66 except for short, narrow portions 74 of the top sheet that arenot sealed to the bottom sheet. These narrow portions 74 form conduitsthat intercommunicate the adjacent air cells 66 of the third group.Long, narrow portions of the top sheet and bottom sheet are also leftunsecured to each other, forming a third inflation conduit 76 thatextends between the air cells of the third group 66 on the left side ofthe pillow and the right side of the pillow as shown in FIG. 1. Anadditional third inflation conduit 78 extends between the base sheet 14and top sheet 16 from the third group of air cells 66 on the left sideof the pillow as viewed in FIG. 1, to a third valve 82 positioned at theperipheral edge of the pillow. The third valve 82 can be any known typeof valve that can be used to selectively supply air through the thirdinflation conduits 78, 76 to the air cells 66 of the third group toinflate the air cells, and can be selectively opened to deflate the aircells.

The air cells 66 of the third group together define a left sidecompartment and a right side compartment of the air pillow. The leftside compartment and right side compartment intercommunicate with eachother through the third inflation conduit 76. The left side compartmentand right side compartment enclose respective left and right sidesections of the interior volume of the air pillow. The left and rightside sections of the pillow interior volume are isolated from theforward and rearward sections of the pillow interior volume.

The top wall surfaces 68 of the air cells 66 of the third group togetherdefine a left side surface area portion and a right side surface areaportion of the total top surface area of the pillow. The side walls 72of the air cells of the third group 66 have the same dimensions. Whenthe air cells of the third group 66 are fully inflated, the dimensionsof the air cell side walls 72 position the top wall surfaces 68 of theair cells at generally the same elevation above the plane defined by thebase sheet and top sheet peripheral edges 18. This third elevation ofthe top wall surfaces 68 of the air cells of the third group 66 iselevated above the first elevation of the top wall surfaces 28 of theair cells 26 of the first group and is elevated above the secondelevation of the top wall surfaces 48 of the air cells 46 of the secondgroup. By adjusting the air pressure in the air cells 66 of the thirdgroup, the third elevation of the air cell top wall surfaces 68 can beadjusted. In addition, adjusting the air pressure in the air cells 66 ofthe third group adjusts the firmness or softness of the air cells.

The sealed forward pillow compartment defined by the air cells 26 of thefirst group and the sealed rearward pillow compartment defined by theair cells 46 of the second group support the respective neck and head ofthe user when the user is sleeping on their back. The left side pillowcompartment defined by the air cells 66 of the third group on the leftside of the pillow and the right side pillow compartment defined by theair cells 66 of the third group on the right side of the pillow supportthe respective left side of the individual's head and neck and the rightside of the individual's head and neck when the individual is sleepingon either side.

The forward pillow compartment defined by the air cells 26 of the firstgroup contains a forward section of the pillow interior volume that issealed from the remainder of the pillow interior volume. This enablesthe forward section of the pillow interior volume to be adjustablyinflated to a desired air pressure that provides the firmness orsoftness of the pillow preferred by the individual. In addition, theforward compartment of the pillow defined by the air cells 26 of thefirst group can be adjustably inflated through the first valve 38 toadjust an elevation position of the top wall surfaces 28 of the forwardcompartment beneath the individual's neck, providing support for theneck when the individual is sleeping on their back.

The rearward pillow compartment defined by the air cells 46 of thesecond group contains a rearward section of the pillow interior volumethat is sealed from the other pillow compartments. This enables therearward pillow compartment to be adjustably inflated to provide thelevel of firmness or softness preferred by the pillow user. In addition,the rearward pillow compartment defined by the air cells 46 of thesecond group has a height dimensioned that positions the top wallsurfaces 48 of the rearward pillow compartment at a lesser elevationthan the top wall surfaces 28 of the forward pillow compartment. Thisenables the top surface of the rearward pillow compartment to supportthe user's head at a slightly lesser elevation than the top surface ofthe forward pillow compartment supporting the user's neck when the useris lying on their back.

The left side and right side pillow compartment's defined by the aircells 66 of the third group on the respective left side and right sideof the pillow contain respective left side and right side sections ofthe pillow interior volume. The left side and right sections of thepillow interior volume are sealed from the forward and rearward sectionsof the interior volume, but communicate with each other through theiradjacent conduits 74 and the third inflation conduit 76. This enablesthe air pressure in the left side and right side sections of the pillowinterior volume to be adjusted to provide the respective left and rightcompartments of the pillow with the firmness or softness desired by theindividual user. In addition, the left and right side compartments ofthe pillow defined by the air cells 66 of the third group on the leftside and right side of the pillow are constructed with their top wallsurfaces 68 elevated slightly above the top wall surfaces 48 of therearward pillow compartment defined by the air cells 46 of the secondgroup. This dimensioning of the left and right side compartments of thepillow enables the compartments to comfortably support the respectiveleft and right sides of the user's head when the user is sleeping oneither their left side or right side.

Thus, the pillow of the present invention provides separate airadjustable compartments that can provide the desired firmness orsoftness of the individual user. In addition, the dimensioning of thepillow's separate compartments enable it to comfortably support the headand neck of the user when the user is sleeping on their back, andsupport the opposite left side and right side of the user's head whenthe user is sleeping on their respective left or right sides.

Although the air pillow of the invention has been described above byreference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that othervariations and modifications could be made to the air pillow withoutdeparting from the intended scope of the invention defined by thefollowing claims.

1) A pillow specifically configured to support a user's head and neckcomprising: an inflatable cushion having a top surface and an oppositebottom surface and an interior volume between the top surface and thebottom surface; the interior volume having a sealed forward sectionbetween the top surface and the bottom surface, the forward sectionbeing positioned on the pillow and dimensioned relative to the pillow tosupport the user's neck on the forward section; the interior volumehaving a sealed rearward section between the top surface and the bottomsurface, the rearward section being adjacent the forward section andbeing sealed from the forward section, the rearward section beingpositioned on the pillow and dimensioned relative to the pillow tosupport the user's head on the rearward section; the interior volumehaving a sealed left side section between the top surface and the bottomsurface, the left side section being adjacent the forward section andthe rearward section and being sealed from the forward section and therearward section, the left side section being positioned on the pillowand dimensioned relative to the pillow to support the user's head on theleft side section; and, the interior volume having a sealed right sidesection between the top surface and the bottom surface, the right sidesection being adjacent the forward section and the rearward section andbeing sealed from the forward section and the rearward section, theright side section being on an opposite side of the interior volume fromthe left side section, the right side section being positioned on thepillow and dimensioned relative to the pillow to support the user's headon the right side section. 2) A pillow comprising: an inflatable cushionhaving a top surface and an opposite bottom surface and an interiorvolume between the top surface and the bottom surface; the interiorvolume having a sealed forward section between the top surface and thebottom surface; the interior volume having a sealed rearward sectionbetween the top surface and the bottom surface, the rearward sectionbeing adjacent the forward section and being sealed from the forwardsection; the interior volume having a sealed left side section betweenthe top surface and the bottom surface, the left side section beingadjacent the forward section and the rearward section and being sealedfrom the forward section and the rearward section; the interior volumehaving a sealed right side section between the top surface and thebottom surface, the right side section being adjacent the forwardsection and the rearward section and being sealed from the forwardsection and the rearward section, the right side section being on anopposite side of the interior volume from the left side section; and,the interior volume consisting essentially of the forward section, therearward section, the left side section, and the right side section. 3)The pillow of claim 1, further comprising: the top surface being formedwith a plurality of upwardly projecting air cells. 4) A pillowcomprising: an inflatable cushion having a top surface and an oppositebottom surface and an interior volume between the top surface and thebottom surface; the interior volume having a sealed forward sectionbetween the top surface and the bottom surface; the interior volumehaving a sealed rearward section between the top surface and the bottomsurface, the rearward section being adjacent the forward section andbeing sealed from the forward section; the interior volume having asealed left side section between the top surface and the bottom surface,the left side section being adjacent the forward section and therearward section and being sealed from the forward section and therearward section; the interior volume having a sealed right side sectionbetween the top surface and the bottom surface, the right side sectionbeing adjacent the forward section and the rearward section and beingsealed from the forward section and the rearward section, the right sidesection being on an opposite side of the interior volume from the leftside section; and, the left side section and the right side section ofthe interior volume being in fluid communication with each other. 5) Thepillow of claim 4, further comprising: a single valve on the pillowcommunicating with the left side section and the right side section ofthe interior volume. 6) The pillow of claim 1, further comprising: aforward section valve for controlling a fluid pressure in the forwardsection of the interior volume; and, a rearward section valve forcontrolling a fluid pressure in the rearward section of the interiorvolume. 7) The pillow of claim 6, further comprising: a side sectionvalve for controlling a fluid pressure in at least one of the left sidesection and the right side section of the interior volume. 8) The pillowof claim 1, further comprising: the left side section and the right sidesection of the interior volume having equal volumes. 9) A pillowcomprising: an inflatable cushion having a top surface and an oppositebottom surface and an interior volume between the top surface and thebottom surface; the interior volume having a sealed forward sectionbetween the top surface and the bottom surface; the interior volumehaving a sealed rearward section between the top surface and the bottomsurface, the rearward section being adjacent the forward section andbeing sealed from the forward section; the interior volume having asealed left side section between the top surface and the bottom surface,the left side section being adjacent the forward section and therearward section and being sealed from the forward section and therearward section; the interior volume having a sealed right side sectionbetween the top surface and the bottom surface, the right side sectionbeing adjacent the forward section and the rearward section and beingsealed from the forward section and the rearward section, the right sidesection being on an opposite side of the interior volume from the leftside section; and, the rearward section of the interior volume having avolume that is larger than a volume of the forward section of theinterior volume. 10) The pillow of claim 1, further comprising: aportion of the top surface above the forward section of the interiorvolume being elevated above a portion of the top surface above therearward section of the interior volume. 11) The pillow of claim 1,further comprising: portions of the top surface above the left sidesection and above the right side section of the interior volume beingelevated above a portion of the top surface above the rearward sectionof the interior volume. 12) The pillow of claim 1, further comprising:each of the forward section, the rearward section, the left sidesection, and the right side section having a rectangle configuration.13) A pillow specifically configured to support a user's head and neckcomprising: an inflatable cushion having a top surface and an oppositebottom surface and an interior volume between the top surface and thebottom surface; the top surface having a forward area portion that ispositioned on the pillow and is dimensioned relative to the pillow tosupport the user's neck on the forward area portion of the top surface;the top surface having a rearward area portion adjacent the forward areaportion, the rearward area portion being positioned on the pillow andbeing dimensioned relative to the pillow to support the user's head onthe rearward area portion of the top surface, the forward area portionbeing elevated above the rearward area portion; the top surface having aleft side area portion adjacent the forward area portion and therearward area portion, the left side area portion being positioned onthe pillow and being dimensioned relative to the pillow to support aside of the user's head on the left side area portion of the topsurface, the left side area portion being elevated above the rearwardarea portion; and, the top surface having a right side area portionadjacent the forward area portion and the rearward area portion, theright side area portion being positioned on the pillow and beingdimensioned relative to the pillow to support a side of the user's headon the right side area portion of the top surface, the right side areaportion being elevated above the rearward area portion, the right sidearea portion being on an opposite side of the top surface from the leftside area portion. 14) A pillow comprising: an inflatable cushion havinga top surface and an opposite bottom surface and an interior volumebetween the top surface and the bottom surface: the top surface having aforward area portion; the top surface having a rearward area portionadjacent the forward area portion, the forward area portion beingelevated above the rearward area portion; the top surface having a leftside area portion adjacent the forward area portion and the rearwardarea portion, the left side area portion being elevated above therearward area portion; and, the top surface having a right side areaportion adjacent the forward area portion and the rearward area portion,the right side area portion being elevated above the rearward areaportion, the right side area portion being on an opposite side of thetop surface from the left side area portion. the top surface consistingessentially of the forward area portion, the rearward area portion, theleft side area portion, and the right side area portion. 15) The pillowof claim 13, further comprising: the top surface being formed with aplurality of upwardly projecting cells. 16) The pillow of claim 13,further comprising: the left side area portion and the right side areaportion of the top surface being equally elevated above the rearwardarea portion of the top surface. 17) The pillow of claim 13, furthercomprising: the rearward area portion being larger than the forward areaportion. 18) The pillow of claim 13, further comprising: the left sidearea portion and the right side area portion being equal areas. 19) Thepillow of claim 18, further comprising: the left side area portion andthe right side area portion each being larger than the forward areaportion of the top surface. 20) The pillow of claim 13, furthercomprising: the forward area portion, the rearward area portion, theleft side area portion, and the right side area portion each having arectangular configuration.